ACA 2011-2012 Curriculum

We have choose to homeschool year round and take breaks as needed. This might not work for everyone , but it does for us. It is easier than a traditional school year because all of our children work at VERY different paces.  When a child finishes a subject in less than 36 weeks then they just move right on to the next book or level. On the other hand if a child needs 36+ weeks for a subject that is fine as well. This year will be Elisabeth's first year of semi-formal school.  She will be in Junior Kindergarten (JK) which I believe is the Canadian equivalent to Pre K. Imanuel is finishing JK entering senior kindergarten(SK). Hannah is finishing first grade and entering second. Isaiah is completing 3rd and moving on to 4th grade.

The biggest change this year is the switch from Math U See and Teaching Textbooks to Saxon.  I loved both programs but my kids didn't despite the rave reviews. Also we are starting the Sonlight core P3/4 with our little ones and starting Latin for Children with Isaiah.

Here is what we have planned for the upcoming year.

~ISAIAH ~

Bible and Character

Joesph's  Ladder Curriculum

Lessons in Responsibility for Boys Book 2

Sonlight Core C

Math

Finishing up Teaching Textbooks 3

Starting Saxon 5/4

Science

God's Inspiring World by Rod and Staff

Sonlight Core C Science

CLP Nature Reader 

History and Literature

Sonlight Core C with grade 4/5 readers

A Child's Geography: Explore his earth

English Language Arts

Rod and Staff Spelling

Rod and Staff English : Building with Diligence

A Reason for Handwriting

Latin

Latin for Children A

French Language Arts

Chouette Entraînement en Français

Chouette Entraînement en Lecture

Chouette Entraînement en Dictées

Music

Piano 

starting Suzuki violin

Visual Arts

Drawing with Children

Physical Education

Soccer

~ HANNAH~

Bible and Character

Joesph's Ladder Curriculum

Lessons in Responsibility for Girls 1

Math

Saxon Math 1

Science

Apologia Botany

CLP Nature Reader

English Language Arts

Finishing Pathway readers and workbooks

Starting Rod and Staff English 2 : Preparing to Build

Sonlight Core P3/4

Latin

Song School Latin

French Language Arts

Chouette Entraînement en Français

Chouette Entraînement en Lecture

Music

Piano

Visual Arts

Drawing with Children

Physical Education

Pre- Competitive Artistic Gymnastics 

6 hours/wk

~ IMANUEL ~

Bible and Character

Joesph's Ladder Curriculum

Lessons in Responsibility for Boys 1

Math

Saxon Math K

Science

Apologia Botany

CLP Nature Reader

English Language Arts

 Pathway readers and workbooks

Sonlight Core P3/4

A Reason for Handwriting K

Latin

Song School Latin

French Language Arts

Chouette Entraînement en Français

Music

Suzuki Piano

Visual Arts

Drawing with Children

Art Classes 3hours/wk

Physical Education

Soccer

~ELISABETH~

Horizons Preschool

    Sonlight Core P3/4

Suzuki Piano

Throughout the year I will try my best to review and compare the  programs that we have used.  To see more curriculum plans visit the 3rd Annual Not Back To School Blog Hop.

August already!

Last week I started to see back-to-school ads; summer is just flying by.

Tomorrow, August 1st will start off the 3rd ANNUAL NOT BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLOG HOP that will be hosted by Heart of the Matter Online .

We have been looking forward to this, it is a great way to get excited about the upcoming school year.

Here is a snippet from their site:

Learn what others are using. Share your plans. See what works, or what doesn’t, for others. Share your photos. It’s a Not-Back-to-School blog hop for homeschoolers, afterschoolers, preschoolers, carschoolers, anyone – anyone at all – who teaches at home and wants to share or needs a little encouragement. Meet new bloggers, get to know homeschoolers near you and nowhere near you.

• First week in August: It’s a curriculum hop. Share your well-researched plans on your post. Show us what you love. Four math curriculums later… you decided on?? Linky will go up on Monday 8/1/11!

• Second week in August: It’s a school room hop. Tell us about your “school room”. This can be a dedicated space, or what you’ve made work. Post photos, storage ideas, comfy chairs. Your garage? Or dining room table? An actual school house? Show us where you school! Linky will go up on 8/8/11!

• Third week in August: It’s a “not back to school photo” hop. This time, share your students! All too often, homeschoolers forget to take that token not-back-to-school photo. So, you can wear a backpack and new shoes like the typical first-day-of-school photos, or you can wear a batman costume, goggles and barefeet – like my homeschoolers. Come as you are. First-day-of school photos shared. Linky will go up on the 8/15/11.

• Fourth week in August: Day in the life. Do you rise at dawn, say the pledge of allegiance, sit at desks, have recess? Do you school year round or do nature hikes? Or do you start well-caffeinated and hide in the bathroom for your own recess? Tell us about a typical (or not so typical) day in the life of your homeschool. Linky will go up on 8/22/11.

Here is your chance to show off your planning, or make yourself accountable or simply just show your student’s or students’ smiling faces. Can’t wait to see a glimpse into what makes homeschool successful for you all.

Happy Not Back-to-School to you all!

In November 2007, we decide to pull our son out of public school three months into first grade. I believe that what we did that November was one of the best decisions we have made as parents.

We are currently gearing up for our fourth year together at home and could not be more content. This year we will be working with Isaiah in fourth grade , Hannah in first grade , Imanuel in SK(senior kindergarten), and Elisabeth in JK (junior kindergarten). We also have a baby girl who will soon be one and is tagging along for all the fun .

We have created this blog in an attempt to keep a written record of our homeschooling journey and to hopefully guide some others along theirs.